Please submit your Vet friend stories and photos for publication To Burgertogo@msn.com This new page is designed for you to have a place to TELL your story about a buddy. I know I have a bunch of them.  Post Traumatic Stress
Disorder
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ( PTSD ) is as real an illness or disease as any other that you can name. I have been suffering from it for 38 years now since my return from Vietnam. When you mention Stress, Depression, Anxiety, etc: most people think of a mental problem. Well they are right, it is a mental illness, that can never be cured, only treated. I first sought help in 1995 with the VA and was turned down because " I made too much money". This was after my son joined he military. The symptoms flared up again in 2003 and I went to a private psychologist for help. He diagnosed me with PTSD and referred me to the VA. I have been in treatment now for 6 years in group therepy as well as individual therepy and have taken a wide range of medications until I found the best ones for me. The past year has been much better, though I still have my nightmares, panic attacks, and bouts of uncontrolable anger. But I am not the only one that suffers as a result of my illness. My wife of 37 years has felt the brunt of it along with my children, family, and friends. I have been in and out of trouble with the law also as a result of my extremely quick temper. But therepy and medications do work, and I encourage anyone to go for help. Those dealing with a loved one should research the subject and get educated on how to act and react to someone with this illness. There are classes also for family and friends of PTSD patients given free at any VA facility or Vet Center. Another source for help is other Vets, as they are really the only one that knows what you are really dealing with. Talk about it, no matter how painful, and believe me I know how painful it is. Men are told to never cry, well let me tell you, it takes strength to hug another Veteran and shed a few tears over what we went through. My thoughts and prayers are with anyone going through this and if you ever need a shoulder, mine are avaiable.
Robert Lisenby (Indian) 4-26-2009 My Friend the VET David T. “Drops” Sprinkle I treasure the friendships with all of the men with whom I served in Vietnam, but “Drops” is one-of-a-kind. He was an NCO (SGT E5) and was more than competent at his job and especially good at training newer troopers. When something needed doing, he was first to volunteer. On 3 January 1972 Drops was near the end of his tour and was serving as Company Log Penny. Because we had a pretty significant number of newer men in the unit, Drops volunteered to go on patrol with 3rd Platoon to assist. Drops was severely wounded that day along with 27 other men. We weren’t sure that Drops would make it, but he did. Like most of us, Drops had problems adjusting to life “back in the world,” but he did make those adjustments. His life today is one of service to veterans. He volunteers at his local VA hospital and does all he can to help his brothers in need. The good Lord blessed me to serve with a man like Drops while in Vietnam and blessed me again in 2001 when I was reunited with him in Arizona. I am a better person for having Drops as my friend the VET. Signed: John McCorkle 4-22-2009 John McCorkle John
McCorkle’s name comes up a great deal on this web site as well as face
book. It does because John in involved with things. He gets in and gets
his hands dirty on a project. John is the first to say, “sure thing I
would love to do that”. John is a great friend of the vets. Working my way over some reunion photos I stumbled into an out of focus (normally on the edit room floor) photo of John when he was talking to all of us at the Traveling Wall. Looking at this reject photo I new in a second why John is so special. The photo shows it so very clear. Look into his eyes, they tell the story.. It shows us just how much he cares. This is what makes John a great person. John thank you for being my friend and my hero. TREE  |